LiftMaster 8550W Review

Liftmaster 8550W Elite Series is a belt-driven garage door opener. It’s quieter and smoother compared to many cheaper chain-drive units commonly found in existing homes. Though targeted at a more premium segment of the market, Liftmaster 8550W isn’t much more expensive than other chain drive models such as WD962KEV.

LiftMaster 8550W Features

LiftMaster products are designed for professional installation. If you want to save your money on installation and need a DIY opener, I would recommend Chamberlain WD832KEV to you, which is also an awesome belt drive garage door opener.

It’s important to note that you will not find multiple rail pieces that are clipped together from a box kit. Installers will bring a single long rail for you. But you have to pay extra money for that.Wall Control Panels

The wall control panels tell us the temperature in the garage. The timer-to-close function helps us to close the doors automatically on a timer we set.

The wall control panels can tell us if there is something blocking the sensors. It stops the doors from closing if they sense anything.

Motion Detecting Light

There are two bulbs on each side of the opener, rated at up to 100 watts each. If someone enters the garage, The lights go on automatically when the doors open.

Just imagine on dark mornings when the sun is not out yet and we have to go to work, how great the lights come out when they sense us.

However, if you have a garage with natural daylight, the motion detector will still trigger the light even when it’s not needed. You can turn the motion detector off via the control panel settings if you find it annoying.

Myq-enabled

LiftMaster 8550 can be controlled by your smartphone. But to actually make MyQ work, you need to buy a $40 CIGBU gateway.

Battery Backup

Liftmaster 8550 has a battery backup so if the power goes out, we can still open and close the doors a couple times in an emergency situation. Without this feature, your heavy garage door might start feeling more like a prison gate than a convenience.

Smooth Operator

The higher quality brushless DC motor has a lifetime warranty and the rest of the parts have a five-year warranty and the battery has a one year warranty. Since batteries are not long-lasting, expect to replace every few years.

If using the CIGBU gateway, I recommend to put it and the Wi-Fi router on a UPS to avoid being stranded in case of a power outage.

Small Packages

The 8550 does not come with a lot in the box. In the box, you will find the main unit, a wall control panel and one 3-button remote. Additional remote go for $40 which you will probably need if you are not living alone, thus making the remote annoying.

It is a ½ horsepower equivalent unit and it should be able to lift a two car steel door. The DC motors are not rated in HP. It has a built-in backup battery and without an inverter, only DC motors will have battery backup first. The unit lacks safety beams in the box, probably another additional cost from the installer.

LiftMaster 8550W Accessories

Liftmaster 829LM Monitor

Liftmaster 829LM Monitor

This indoor sensor can let us know if the garage doors are open. If your garage door opener is old and noisy, you can hear the doors being opened so you know if someone had come home. Liftmaster 8550 is super quiet that you can no longer hear them inside the house.

The Garage Door Monitor let you enjoy both visual and auditory confirmations of the current status of your garage door. The beeps from the monitor remind you at least one door is open. The volume is adjustable and you can also turn it off entirely.

A solid green light assures you your doors are closed. If you do realize that you forgot to shut the door, you can simply hit the Close button.

The myQ Internet Gateway and iPhone (or Android) app let you open or close your garage doors from almost anywhere. To make Myq Internet gateway work you need an available ethernet port on your network.

The Serial # on the bottom of the gateway is used to configure the LiftMaster app. Then simply plug the gateway into your network and plug it in for power.

First, you’ll need to register at LiftMaster.com, then download the LiftMaster App to your phone. Log-in via the app and enter the Internet Gateway as a new device. After that, the app has been connected to Liftmaster 8550.

You can check the current status of your garage door (open or closed) and a record of recent activity. What’s more, you can open and close the door remotely just using your iPhone and a cell or wifi connection. The remote access can also be handy for letting someone into the garage when you’re not home.

Conclusion

From Internet access to smart control pads to battery backup functionality, LiftMaster 8550 garage door opener is a product that will function exactly how you want it to. With this opener, you can remote control your garage doors open or closed whether you’re in your car, in the garage, in the house, or halfway around the world.

If you’re considering upgrading your garage door opener, this model is a great choice!